Mauresmo's power ends hopes of all-Belgian final

Justine Henin-Hardenne, the French and US Open champion, who is guaranteed to end the year as world No1, suffered a surprise three-set defeat last night at the hands of Amélie Mauresmo in the WTA Tour Championship semi-finals in Los Angeles.

Henin-Hardenne had earlier been voted player of the year by fans in a worldwide internet poll but could have had no complaints about last night's result in her attempt to set up another meeting with Kim Clijsters in tomorrow night's final. The Belgian compatriots had contested the grand slam finals at Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows.

Henin-Hardenne, 21, who eased off in her final group game on Saturday night, losing 6-2, 6-4 to the Japanese world No11 Ai Sugiyama, found Mauresmo in majestic form at the Staples Centre and the French women thoroughly deserved her place in the final, winning 7-6, 3-6, 6-3.

The 20-year-old Clijsters had had an early scare when she lost the first set but she recovered to secure her final place by beating the injured Jennifer Capriati of the United States 4-6, 6-3, 6-0.

Capriati has been bothered by a right hip injury. "I probably shouldn't have played at all," she said. "You always think maybe there's a little bit of hope you could pull it out."

In Pattaya City in Thailand, Henrieta Nagyova beat Lubomira Kurhajcova 6-4, 6-2 in the only women's tour final of 2003 to feature two unseeded players.